Naked Series #1: Undress My Soul (COMPLETE)

Chapter 22

Wala sa sarili akong kumakain kasama ng buong pamilya ko. Ngayon lang ulit kami nagsabay-sabay makalipas ng halos tatlong buwan dahil madalas na wala ang isa sa amin. Kung hindi ng magulang ko ang busy, ako naman ang walang oras.

I'm handling our agency here in Switzerland and I've been doing this for almost three years now. Gusto ni Mamá na pag-aralan ko ang cruise ship business namin pero hindi ako pumayag kasi gusto kong si Hellrion ang magmana no'n.

He just finished studying marine and I think he can handle our business even if he's very hard-headed.

"Hail?"

Napakurap ako at nakitang nakatingin silang lahat sa akin.

"H-Huh?"

Papá frowned. Tumikhim ako at umayos ng upo. I realized I was spacing out in the middle of eating.

"You're spacing out. Are you okay?"

I smile. "Yes, Papá. I'm just thinking about something..."

I just can't stop thinking about Dutch.

He saw me.

Hindi naman sa nagtatago ako sa kanila. I just didn't expect I'll see him here. Ang best friend pa ng lalaking sinaktan ako ng sobra.

I never tried searching for any news about the engagement of the Mondragon and Lopez clans. I'm scared that reality might slap me... na baka kasal na si Jacob. I'm at peace in the middle; the thoughts that Jacob might still be single, or is now married.

"As I was saying, we all need to go to the Philippines since one of our family friends/business partners invited us to the celebration of their company's anniversary."

My eyes widen. Mabilis akong napatunghay nang sabihin ni Mamá iyon.

"What?" I gasped.

"You heard me, anak."

I started to panic inside.

"C-Can I just stay here?"

I'm not yet ready!

Alam kong maraming taon na ang lumipas at namimiss ko na din si Dev pero hindi pa ako handang makita si Jacob kasama yung babaeng highlighter!

Umiling si Mamá. Parang gumuho ang mundo ko.

"You can't, hija. It's their company's silver anniversary and we're obligated to go there as one of the investors."

Dumagundong ang dibdib ko. This is not good. Alam kong hindi lang kaba ang dahilan ng pagtibok ng puso ko.

Deep inside... I'm anticipating this day will come.

"But-"

"No more buts, Lorraine Hail. I let you decide before whenever we're invited in an event in the Philippines. Ayos lang ang pagtanggi mo, but not this one, Anak." Maotoridad na sabat ni Papá.

I pursed my lips and nodded obediently.

I have nothing to say whenever Papá decides. Minsan lang makialam si Papá sa desisyon ko at hindi ko kayang sumuway sa kaniya kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag.

Days have passed like a whirlwind. Here I am now, standing in the exit of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Ilang minuto pa akong nakatulala bago ako hinila ni Hillary.

"Come on!" She giggled and dragged me towards our car.

Kaming tatlo lang na magkakapatid ang magkasama ngayon dahil naunang umuwi sila Mamá sa amin. Hindi sila nagtagal sa Switzerland dahil narito sa pilipinas ang bunso naming kapatid na lalaki. He's still studying so he can't go with Mamá and Papá in Switzerland.